Crystal Miller

Background

About Crystal Miller

Crystal Miller is an enrolled citizen of the Walker River Paiute Tribe and a PhD © at the University of Arizona, specializing in federal Indian law and policy, Tribal constitution reform, and Indigenous governance. She holds an A.A. in American Indian Studies, a B.A. in Social Work with an emphasis on rural and Indigenous communities, as well as a M.S. in American Indian Studies (Indigenous Rights and Social Justice), where her groundbreaking research addressed sovereignty infringements on her Tribal Nation at the hands of the United States military. Crystal is the CEO of Sovereignty First, an Indigenous-Women led Native consulting firm, and serves as the Deputy Senior Advisor of Policy, Tax, and Federal Government Relations for the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy. Crystal’s research focuses on Tribal constitutions and the ways in which federal Indian law, policy, and Supreme Court decisions have steadily chipped away at Tribal sovereignty. Through her work, she collaborates with Tribes to strengthen sovereignty by reforming constitutions and governing documents. Prioritizing the alignment of Indigenous values and ensuring they serve as tools of self-determination. Her advocacy and policy roles drive practical and actionable research, while her academic insights strengthen her ability to implement effective strategies for Tribes.